No overdrive from SVT-CL?

tonymcbony · #1 05-03-2011, 05:38 AM

Strange thing here.
I cannot get any preamp overdrive from my SVT-CL!
It's just a super clean beast; I can run the preamp gain up full and it doesn't crunch a bit.

I would actually rather like some overdrive from the preamp even though the clean headroom is nice; any suggestions?

roffe · #2 05-03-2011, 05:41 AM

Hotter pickups and/or a boost pedal?

huben94 · #3 05-03-2011, 05:42 AM

Do you have you bass volume all the way up?
R

tonymcbony · #4 05-03-2011, 05:48 AM

I'm using quarter pounders in a P bass, trying to clean boost with an SFT so I've got that one nailed, and yup, double checked the volume on the bass is up.

It's really weird eh!

jetofuj · #5 05-03-2011, 06:03 AM

I've read that you really have to crank also master volume to drive CL, but I don't know if it is true. I know a guy who changed CL for V4BH to be able to get overdrive easier at reasonable gigging levels

Maybe tube change can help a bit?

Jim C · #6 05-03-2011, 06:04 AM

Mine can get grindy with stock P or J pups.
Maybe time to test some pre amp tubes.
Things that are easy to check:
* Does yours have tube bias LED's, and is bias set properly
* Do any of the tubes have a funny glow when idle or when being pushed hard
* Is the speaker impedance set correctly and are you using a 2 or 4 ohm cabinet
* Do all the controls work properly (other than lack of OD)

JustOpenYourMind · #7 05-03-2011, 06:11 AM

I think that you are just playing too softly, overdrive from a tube amp requires a very dynamic playing.

Try digging in more don't be affraid.

micahturner · #8 05-03-2011, 06:12 AM

+1 on what Jim said.

I've got an SVT-CL going through a '75 Ampeg 810 and I can get great sounding overdrive. I also have a Tech 21 VT Bass in my signal chain to get the SVT overdrive tones at low amp volume.

I did notice a nice change in tone after I swapped out the stock CL power tubes with some Tung Sols.

Best of luck to you.

Bassmec · #9 05-03-2011, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

Mine can get grindy with stock P or J pups.
Maybe time to test some pre amp tubes.
Things that are easy to check:
* Does yours have tube bias LED's, and is bias set properly
* Do any of the tubes have a funny glow when idle or when being pushed hard
* Is the speaker impedance set correctly and are you using a 2 or 4 ohm cabinet
* Do all the controls work properly (other than lack of OD)

Yes check these considerations, you might just have a 12ax7 /ECC83 pre amp tube gone very low emission.
These are a very common tube, see if you can find some old ex equipment ones to substitute with RCA, GE, Mullard, Brimar GEC or Ampex written on them.
If you can ever find Mullard tubes marked CV4004 these are a very, very good high gain military spec tube with silvered copper pins and traces, they sound amazingly good, like Telefunkens in the top but with slightly more full low mid.
Don't be a dullard, Fit a Mullard!.

username1 · #10 05-03-2011, 06:47 AM

Just put a JJ longplate 12ax7 in the first position, they have alot of drive.

beans-on-toast · #11 05-03-2011, 07:17 AM

As others have already said, changing tubes and setting the bias can make the amp sing.

Use input 1 on your amp, input 2 is reduced 15db.

Also check the pick-up height settings on your bass. If they aren't close enough to the strings your signal will be reduced.

Just to be sure, try a different instrument cable.

If all else fails, try a pedal like a VT Bass at the input.

jetofuj · #12 05-03-2011, 08:04 AM

I don't want to hijack the thread, but can I get from CL really bass heavy tone (with milder treble) that is really focused. Every time I heard CL was in classic rock context and it was blurry, kinda undefiend and hidden under the guitars. In my band bass is on the same level as a guitar, it's on top - I'd call it "lead bass". Eric Avery from Jane's Addiction comes to my mind...

JimmyM · #13 05-03-2011, 09:49 AM

i've had a couple rentals not give me any drive, but most do give me some drive at the outer reaches of the dial past 2:00. so i'd suggest a tube change as well to something a little more gnarly.

Bassmec · #14 05-03-2011, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetofuj

I don't want to hijack the thread, but can I get from CL really bass heavy tone (with milder treble) that is really focused. Every time I heard CL was in classic rock context and it was blurry, kinda undefiend and hidden under the guitars. In my band bass is on the same level as a guitar, it's on top - I'd call it "lead bass". Eric Avery from Jane's Addiction comes to my mind...

A CL Head is certainly capable of a very wide range of tone
although for that particular Janes Addiction kind of sound. I would think an old Pair of SVT115 cabs or an old SVT215,
If you dont care about matching labels a mesa diesel 2 X 15
is killer or an old sunn 2 X 15 preferably with K140's would be more naturally like that tone than the 8X10E.
Not saying you couldn't quite easily force that tone with good headroom out of an 8X10 with judicious use of the amps controls + a reasonably simple parametric eq no more complex than is found in something like the little old Yamaha Ne1 pre amp:

jetofuj · #15 05-03-2011, 10:54 AM

CL has got this kind of precence that fills the whole space. My main concern is that I'm not sure if I can get strong and focused tone out of it that would sit on top of the mix if needed.

jackcheez · #16 05-03-2011, 11:59 AM

I dimed the gain on my CL once and all I got was some lame preamp fuzz. Not very satisfying.

There are a lot of other variables tho.

TheNightLife · #17 05-03-2011, 12:14 PM

I've never had a problem getting a strong focused sound out of my svtcl. To be honest it really sounds like your looking for a od pedal rather then diming the amp. The overdrive I've gotten out of my cl was at really high volumes and I think it was more of a power tube over drive rather then a preamp drive. Try putting the master at around 3 or 4 o'clock and use the gain starting from 0 to control the volume.

JimmyM · #18 05-03-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetofuj

CL has got this kind of precence that fills the whole space. My main concern is that I'm not sure if I can get strong and focused tone out of it that would sit on top of the mix if needed.

i can get a strong and focused tone out of any gear i play as long as it has enough guns to do the job and the cab has enough frequency range to get what i want out of it.

jetofuj · #19 05-03-2011, 02:09 PM

Ha, because you're a pro JimmyM

Instruments are tools that have to do the job, so of course there are better and worse choices.

Here's a very simple song I wrote when I was a kid back in the XX century

Oddychaj vel Breathe by Polka Dots Band on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free
Lousy played and recorded, but you will get an idea for what I need it.

seamonkey · #20 05-03-2011, 02:15 PM

Make sure your SVT CL has all the field updates.
They didn't add the clipping diodes to some of the models
http://www.amparchives.com/Amp%20Arc...s/0738_001.pdf